mini exam 1 Flashcards
What is sociology?
the scientific study of society, including how individuals both shape and are shaped by society
What are sociology’s main questions?
- How is this situation affected by how society is structured?
- How is what’s happening today a result of what happened in the past?
- What categories of people dominate our society and how is this changing?
- How could things be different?
What is the sociological imagination?
-helps us to see different viewpoints, not limiting ourselves to an individualistic view
-connecting what’s happening in our lives and other individuals to larger social patterns
What is structure? What is agency? Why are these important?
-structure: constraints and limitations
-agency: individual choices and free will
-important because they shape individual character and therefore moral responsibility
What is the difference between a stereotype and a good generalization?
-stereotypes: predetermined ideas about groups of people, used to promote or excuse discrimination
-good generalizations: statements backed by evidence
What are some things we should keep in mind when studying sociology?
-ask questions of ourselves
-keep an open mind
-practice mindful skepticism
-tolerate uncertainty
-recognize interdependence
-do not feel powerless
-refuse to participate in recreating inequalities
-understand the difference between situational inconvenience & structural oppression
-recognize our own invisible or hidden privileges
Sociological theories: what is the difference between macro- and micro-level?
-macro level: examines large-scale interactions (functionalism, conflict theory)
-micro level: small interactions between individuals (symbolic interactionism)
What is a social institution?
-Patterns of social interaction aimed at meeting the needs of a society that can’t be met by individuals alone
-Sets of statuses and roles focused around one central aspect of society
What are the seven main social institutions identified by sociologists?
religion, family, education, government, health, media, economy
functionalism & its main ideas
-Everything in society has a function; society is a system of interrelated parts, like a living organism
-associated with collective consciousness, mechanical & organic solidarity, anomie, and manifest and latent functions
collective consciousness
communal beliefs, morals, and attitudes of a society. study collective not individual behavior
mechanical solidarity
community bonding; shared beliefs, customs, values, common activities
organic solidarity
depend on one another for survival; complex labor market
anomie
without law
manifest vs latent functions
-manifest: intended function
-latent: unintended result
Theorist associated with Functionalism
Emile Durkheim
conflict theory & its main ideas
-society is in a constant struggle over scarce resources
-associated with false consciousness & class consciousness; bourgeoisie and proletariat
false consciousness
lack of understanding of your position in society relative to others
class consciousness
developing an understanding of your position in society relative to others
bourgeoisie
owners of the means of production; profit is #1 goal
proletariat
poor or working class
Theorist associated with Conflict Theory
Karl Marx
symbolic interactionism & its main ideas
-focuses on one-on-one interactions,
communications, & symbols
-social construction of reality, dramaturgy, impression management
social construction of reality
groups construct culture meaning many change across time and place
dramaturgy
explaining interaction among small groups by looking at social actors, social scripts, props used, and setting
impression management
physical, verbal, visual, and gestural messages we use to try to control others’ evaluations of us
What’s the difference between empirical research and normative statements?
-empirical research: allows us to test out assumptions about the world and find out what is really going on, these statements can be proven true or false
-normative statements: statements with which you are expressing an opinion
What’s the importance of objectivity and ethics in sociological research?
-objectivity: ability to conduct research without personal bias or influence of prejudice
-ethics: do no harm, informed consent, voluntary participation, institutional review board (IRB)
What are different types of qualitative research?
-Interviews
-Observations
-Field research
-Ethnography
What are different types of quantitative research?
-Analyze numbers
-Examine trends
-Survey research
-Secondary data analysis
What is the research methods cycle like in social science research?
- identifying problem or ask question
- review the literature
- formulate a hypothesis; give operational definitions to variables
- choose a research design or method
- collect data and record info
- interpret your results
What is the Hawthorne Effect?
-Behavior may change because they know they are being watched as part of a study
-Sometimes unavoidable
What is meant by a spurious correlation?
occurs when two factors appear causally related to one another but are not
What is a culture? What is a society?
-culture: beliefs, practices, and characteristics of a group
-society: a group of people who share a culture
What are examples of non-material culture?
-Norms, values, beliefs, symbols, and language
-Body language
-Gestures
social norms
folkways, laws, mores, taboos
folkways & examples
-rules of behavior for many routine interactions, if violated might lead to annoyance but would not threaten society
-waiting in line when buying something or raising your hand in class
laws
created by governments to enforce many mores
mores & examples
-widely held beliefs about what’s considered moral and just behavior in society
-parents will feed their children and people will pay their taxes
taboos
a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing
What is cultural relativism vs. ethnocentrism?
-cultural relativism: assessing a culture through its own standards
-ethnocentrism: assessing a culture through your own lens
What is assimilation?
Gradual adaptation of cultural patterns & values most similar to the dominant majority
What is cultural appropriation?
Adopting specific elements of another culture, usually for personal gain, entertainment, or to look fashionable or “cool”
What is meant by socialization? Primary socialization? Secondary socialization?
-Process through which we come to understand societal norms & expectations, accept society’s beliefs, & become aware of societal values
-Primary socialization: occurs from the time we are born to when we start school
-Secondary socialization: resocialization
Who or what are the main agents of socialization?
parents, peers, schools
How is the media a culture industry?
It has its own fads / trends, news, headlines, stereotypes, values and belief systems
Be able to identify examples of different types of deviance
-Statistical Approach to Deviance = low probability or likelihood, not violating a social norm
-Legalistic Approach: violation of law
-Normative Approach = Violates social norms, folkways, mores, and/or laws
What is a moral entrepreneur? Moral panic?
-Moral entrepreneur: individuals or groups actively seeking to change norms to align with their own moral views
-Moral panic: exaggerated and widespread fear regarding the collapse of public morality
With regard to deviance: what is a stigma? What is labelling?
-Stigma: mark of disgrace to communicate that one is dishonorable or otherwise deviant
-Labelling: reaction to behavior, rather than the behavior itself, that defines deviance
